Jerusalem Court Sentences Rabbi Moshe Yazdi to 18 Years in Prison
The Jerusalem District Court sentenced 63-year-old Rabbi Moshe Yazdi to 18 years in prison for sexual abuse and financial crimes against his female students. Yazdi was also ordered to pay 150,000 shekels in compensation to each victim.
The Jerusalem District Court on Sunday sentenced 63-year-old Rabbi Moshe Yazdi to 18 years in prison and a one-year suspended sentence. Yazdi was convicted in March on two counts of sexual offenses and two counts of financial crimes committed against his female followers. He was also ordered to pay 150,000 shekels in compensation to each of the victims.
Abuse of Religious Authority
Yazdi founded and led the "Amudei HaShalom" association in the Bukharim neighborhood of Jerusalem, serving as its rabbi and community leader. The indictment, filed in 2022, detailed numerous sexual offenses against female community members who attended his lectures.
The judges stated in their ruling:
"We are convinced that the defendant routinely engaged in sexual relationships with women who were his students or members of the 'Amudei Shlomo' community that he headed. The defendant exploited his religious and social status, his older age, and the deep respect and admiration they held for him. In many cases, he also exploited the difficult family, economic, or emotional backgrounds of these women."
According to the court, Yazdi preached to his followers that they must nullify their own thoughts and feelings before the "Torah perspective" and Torah scholars, establishing absolute psychological dependence.
Systematic Exploitation and Financial Fraud
During sentencing arguments, prosecutors Aviad Dweck and Eyal Lidani argued that the offenses were exceptionally severe, representing a systematic and ongoing pattern of behavior. The prosecution stated that Yazdi used religious manipulation, presenting his abusive acts as "spiritual corrections" (tikunim), causing long-lasting psychological damage to the victims.
Regarding the money laundering charges, the prosecution proved that Yazdi, who was undergoing bankruptcy proceedings, used his students' bank accounts to hide funds from his creditors. The prosecution urged the court to consider that Yazdi refused to take responsibility for his actions, forcing the victims to endure the painful legal process of testifying in court.
